The 2015 Official New York Yankees Thread

[Le Grande Orange]

From: Toronto Blue Jays
To: New York Yankees.

How's second-place feeling, guys?

[Déjà Bru]

Originally Posted by Le Grande Orange

From: Toronto Blue Jays
To: New York Yankees.

How's second-place feeling, guys?

Well, we are in good shape for a wild card so far. You only have to get to the dance, not be belle of the ball.

[knightdreamer2k]

Originally Posted by Le Grande Orange

From: Toronto Blue Jays
To: New York Yankees.

How's second-place feeling, guys?

Feels kinda odd. After all we are not quite as cozy with it. Just as the Jays and talks of playoffs don't go together so often.

I'm kidding, but we are still hanging around and it is not over.

[RchW]

I'm still not comfortable. Considering how good the Jays have been the Yankees are close enough especially with 7 games left H2H. If we get cool and NY has a hot streak this could go down to the last day. Nether team wants a WC game against Texas who are probably better than their record.

[Le Grande Orange]

Originally Posted by RchW

I'm still not comfortable. Considering how good the Jays have been the Yankees are close enough especially with 7 games left H2H. If we get cool and NY has a hot streak this could go down to the last day. Nether team wants a WC game against Texas who are probably better than their record.

Current AL post-season probabilities, according to Baseball Prospectus via MLB:

Kansas City, 100.0%
Toronto, 99.7%
New York, 96.7%
Houston, 96.2%
Texas, 48.8%
Minnesota, 20.7%
Cleveland, 13.1%
Tampa, 12.9%
Los Angeles, 10.4%
Baltimore, 0.5%
Detroit, 0.5%
Seattle, 0.3%
Boston, 0.1%
Chicago, 0.1%
Oakland, 0.0%

As Homer Simpson once said, I like those odds!

[RchW]

Originally Posted by Le Grande Orange

Current AL post-season probabilities, according to Baseball Prospectus via MLB:

Kansas City, 100.0%
Toronto, 99.7%
New York, 96.7%
Houston, 96.2%
Texas, 48.8%
Minnesota, 20.7%
Cleveland, 13.1%
Tampa, 12.9%
Los Angeles, 10.4%
Baltimore, 0.5%
Detroit, 0.5%
Seattle, 0.3%
Boston, 0.1%
Chicago, 0.1%
Oakland, 0.0%

As Homer Simpson once said, I like those odds!

LOL you and I both know that these odds are about making the playoffs which includes the WC. If the Jays don't win the division I'm not comfortable with them in a one game deal.

Talk to me when we have a 5 game lead.

I plead guilty to Chicken Littlepox.

[Déjà Bru]

Originally Posted by RchW

If the Jays don't win the division I'm not comfortable with then in a one game deal.

Well, with Texeira looking like he's done for the season, you may just get your wish. Sure, we're beating up the BoSox as I type this, but I'm looking up and down that lineup and seeing Beltran, Gregorius, and Drew are the hot hitters right now. Like, . . . what?

[Déjà Bru]

I don't think we are going to beat these Blue Jays this year. Too tough.

[VarsityGIJane]

Originally Posted by Le Grande Orange

Current AL post-season probabilities, according to Baseball Prospectus via MLB:

Kansas City, 100.0%
Toronto, 99.7%
New York, 96.7%
Houston, 96.2%
Texas, 48.8%
Minnesota, 20.7%
Cleveland, 13.1%
Tampa, 12.9%
Los Angeles, 10.4%
Baltimore, 0.5%
Detroit, 0.5%
Seattle, 0.3%
Boston, 0.1%
Chicago, 0.1%
Oakland, 0.0%

As Homer Simpson once said, I like those odds!

Baltimore, 0.5% and Boston, 0.1% But it's feels strange that the Jays are relevant all of a sudden instead of the usual third place. First time in my lifetime (that I can remember).

[Le Grande Orange]

After the games of July 28th, the Blue Jays were 50-51, putting them fourth in the division, 8 games behind the leaders and 3 games out of the second wild card. Since then, and including today's games, the Jays have gone 32-9. (Over the same period the Yankees have gone 20-22, the Orioles 18-24, the Rays 18-21, and the Red Sox 23-17 .)

In other words, the Jays got red hot while the other clubs basically treaded water.

[VarsityGIJane]

Originally Posted by Le Grande Orange

After the games of July 28th, the Blue Jays were 50-51, putting them fourth in the division, 8 games behind the leaders and 3 games out of the second wild card. Since then, and including today's games, the Jays have gone 32-9. (Over the same period the Yankees have gone 20-22, the Orioles 18-24, the Rays 18-21, and the Red Sox 23-17 .)

In other words, the Jays got red hot while the other clubs basically treaded water.

Wow... sounds like how teams on my singer player sims catch up to me after I have an amazing first half. Haha

[Déjà Bru]

Originally Posted by VarsityGIJane

Baltimore, 0.5% and Boston, 0.1% But it's feels strange that the Jays are relevant all of a sudden instead of the usual third place. First time in my lifetime (that I can remember).

You are a young person if you don't remember the Jays winning it all back-to-back in the early nineties. But yes, you are right on target with your memory after that: 3rd, 4th, 5th, mostly 3rd. Only exception: 2006, 2nd! Behind the Yankees of course. Ah, the good old days.

[VarsityGIJane]

Originally Posted by Déjà Bru

You are a young person if you don't remember the Jays winning it all back-to-back in the early nineties. But yes, you are right on target with your memory after that: 3rd, 4th, 5th, mostly 3rd. Only exception: 2006, 2nd! Behind the Yankees of course. Ah, the good old days.

I started following baseball in 6th grade... which was 2002. I was born in 1991, so yeah I would be way too young to remember those. But I'm aware they happened. Growing up, the AL East order for the most part was Yankees, Red Sox, Blue Jays, Orioles, (Devil) Rays. The last three were somewhat interchangeable, but you get it. All was right in the world haha.

[Déjà Bru]

Originally Posted by VarsityGIJane

I started following baseball in 6th grade... which was 2002. I was born in 1991, so yeah I would be way too young to remember those. But I'm aware they happened. Growing up, the AL East order for the most part was Yankees, Red Sox, Blue Jays, Orioles, (Devil) Rays. The last three were somewhat interchangeable, but you get it. All was right in the world haha.

Let's hope for a return to that state of normalcy, shall we? In the meantime, hang around here, will you? It gets kinda lonely in this thread sometimes. ()

[knightdreamer2k]

I'm not being a defeatist way I say this, but I don't think we have what it takes to retake the east from Toronto. They are just too good. Having said that I like our chances to take the first wildcard slot. We need to close out strong though.

[VarsityGIJane]

Originally Posted by Déjà Bru

Let's hope for a return to that state of normalcy, shall we? In the meantime, hang around here, will you? It gets kinda lonely in this thread sometimes. ()

Sure thing. I check it everyday haha. People love to hate.

So... nine games left in the regular season. 4.0 GB in division, 4.5 up in the wildcard ahead of the Astros. Looking at the standings now, it would be nice if the Twins slipped in there and we got to play them. We usually eat them up. Rangers have done well this year against the Astros and they're playing a series now so it's possible. Angels could go either way and Astros not sure.

Such a strange baseball world right now. The Astros are coming off a 72-90 season. Texas is leading the AL West after a 67-95 season. We lost the division last year to a 96-66 Orioles team, ending up 12 games out as well as 4 games out of the wildcard. What's also interesting is that the Jays ended at 83-79, only one game worse than us.

Also, can you believe Cano is 32?? He's put together a nice little season this year though SO are high. He needs to shave that goofy Ortiz-esque beard though. It seems that we got all the best years out of him if you look at awards and stats. Time will tell though.

[Déjà Bru]

Originally Posted by knightdreamer2k

I'm not being a defeatist way I say this, but I don't think we have what it takes to retake the east from Toronto. They are just too good. Having said that I like our chances to take the first wildcard slot. We need to close out strong though.

You said it. [About Toronto and about the wildcard.] Below are the standings that count now but I hate that one-and-done wildcard game. What's the point of taking either the first or the second wildcard slot, in that case? Win or place in the wild card standings, it all comes down to ONE game.

[Déjà Bru]

Originally Posted by VarsityGIJane

Also, can you believe Cano is 32?? He's put together a nice little season this year though SO are high. He needs to shave that goofy Ortiz-esque beard though. It seems that we got all the best years out of him if you look at awards and stats. Time will tell though.

Feh, I'd say this season was quite sub-par for him. And yes, I permit myself a bit of gloating to know that, while he raked in the dough again this year, he's staying home in October. Beard-wise? I dunno - I think maybe he looks better with it?

[Déjà Bru]

I'll leave you with this interesting factoid. I read on ESPN that the Yankees are one of three franchises which have not lost 100 games in one season for over 100 years: the Yankees (1912), Dodgers (1908), and Cardinals (1908). When I went to Baseball Reference to check on that, I sorted the franchise seasons list and saw that the Yankees have lost 80 or more games only 18 times in their entire history!

[Déjà Bru]

Yankees are in the playoffs (such as they are at this point - one and done coming up, grrrr). Frankly I'm surprised, given my own assessment of the team earlier in the year. Without elaboration, here are the reasons why they made it this far (in no particular order):

• Didi overcame his understandable early season jitters and turned out to be a serviceable replacement at SS.
• Decent seasons by Headley, Gardner, Ellsbury, and Beltran. Not great seasons mind you, but acceptable performances.
• A-Rod. After dumping on him for years, I cannot get over what he did this year at his age and under the circumstances he faced.
• Gregory Bird, who filled in capably for the oft-injured Teixeira. I will be Bird-watching next year.
• Begrudgingly, Teixeira himself, when he could keep himself out of the training room. Continuing my bird analogies, this season could be Tex's swan song.
• John Ryan Murphy. I don't know which is a bigger embarrassment: That the Yankees must continue with McCann because of what they have invested in him or that they must sit Murphy down because of McCann.
• Brian McCann. Yes, I just got done dumping on him too but I must acknowledge 94 RBI's.
• Dustin Ackley, who may be a "diamond in the rough." I am glad to see that he is only 27.
• Decent seasons by Pineda, Eovaldi, and Tanaka. Not great seasons mind you, but acceptable performances.
• Luis Severino. Keep your eye on this one.
• And, of course, the dynamic duo of Betances and Miller.

Obscure Yankees whose names do not appear above were at best mediocre to bad. I will not bother listing their names.

But I will list these well-known Yankees for whom I would be lowering the boom soon if I were Cashman:

• McCann *
• Teixeira **
• Drew **
• Young *
• Ryan **
• Sabathia **
• Nova *

* Cashman to player: "Shape up and produce next year or be gone."
** Cashman to player: "Thanks. Pack up your stuff. You're done."